Originally Posted by Kija

We're trying to get to NZ. Volumes could be written about what's wrong with where we currently are so as I see it we've nothing much to lose by giving it a try. I am worried about not being able to make ends meet there though, that's my biggest concern.

I think those of you who advise against selling houses are correct. It's best to have a plan B just in case.

I was just discussing this with my husband today and the both of us don't want to come back here if we do get out, our plan B would be somewhere else. So as you can see in our case, it's basically "anywhere but here!".

Utopia doesn't exist anywhere but I always believe there are things you can live with and things you can't and this is different for every person. Those of you who gave it a try and didn't find it right for you I still think at least you gave it a try, I too would hate living with "what if". You also tried something different and were exposed to a different culture, lots of good things in that alone. I'm a firm believer that money comes and goes and it's made to be spent, those of you who spent it moving to NZ to discover it wasn't for you didn't waste money, you spent money gaining new experiences and not having to live with "what if", money can be recuperated, "what ifs" eat away at you.

Almost forgot to say thank you very much everyone who shared their stories and experiences with us here and wishing you the very best of luck whatever your choices are

Originally Posted by janeyk

I try not to look at it and money comes as goes as another post said
I have just found out we might not be able to go for another 6 months due to the dog am gutted I do not want another xmas here

Originally Posted by Kiwilass

Trust me, there are plenty of Kiwis who feel like that. Aren't there something like 1 million kiwis living overseas? And I"m one of them. I flirt with the idea of going back occasionally, but I don't think I could long-term.

Going overseas...real overseas, not just Australia, which is kinda more of the same, just a bit bigger...tends to blow your mind coming from NZ. And once the mind is blown, there is no way to make it small again. I do know people who've gone back but they've made peace with the limitations in some way, the pull of family, professional development etc.

Originally Posted by kooga61

No sweat glad to help.

But please could you tell me what gets under your skin about the UK. As I've said before, we have been away for a long time, and our idea of "home" may not exist any more in the real world.

Don't hold back, it is better to get info' warts and all.

By the way, and I've advised this before and it works. If/when you guys finally leave the UK. BEFORE you leave, write out a list of advantages and disadvantages for BOTH the UK and NZ. When you get here, put the list in an easy to find place (on the front of the fridge was mine). You will at some stage question your decision, and believe me you will. Look at the list, compare the lists, at a glance you'll see why you came out here, and why you left. Over time you might start to cross of some of the advantages/ disadvantages (eg - you thought that NZ would have a better educational system for kids....and it didn't. That sort of thing).

When you feel low, it helps polarise things. I don't think there are too many people who can honestly say they don't get homesick at some stage....it might take a while, maybe years , but it will happen.

Just one more thing to think about. Even if you can't wait to leave and don't think you'll want to come back, and intend to sell your house, bear this in mind. In our experience house prices (even in Auckland) for the last 10 years have NOT gone up at the same rate as house prices at home. In our case, the house we originally wanted here would have been about $200,000 and our house in the UK was worth £65,000. Now as I said before we rented ours out for 5 - 6 years, in that time the NZ property went up to $260,000, but our UK property was worth £147,000!!! Now I know we sold at the right time, but that shows you how things can vary (just bare in mind this is an example, and is area specific). Like us you could end up not having a mortgage just purely by holding on for a while.

I don't intend to sell my property here before we leave (although I've yet to talk this over with my lawyer or accountant). I intend to go back for a year or two (yes with my little list! lol) to try it out. I know I may loose a bit of money, but I'm determined that this, one way or the other, will be the final move I make.

Hope the advise makes sense, and you find it useful.

Live the dream, but keep your mind open as well as your eyes.

Kooga

Originally Posted by Kija

Hi there,

Actually I'm not in the UK, we're in Egypt and like I said volumes could be written...

I did live in the UK in the 70's and it was amazing. I have heard that London has changed a lot but TBH I wouldn't really know. One thing my OH and I always wonder about is the large number of Brits wanting to leave the UK. I remember the UK very fondly, and it has breathtaking landscape and loads of positives. Perhaps it's the pull of the grass is greener, though I have to admit I tend to see the UK as being very green.

We've not much to lose, not very attached to my family, most of our friends have left, my OH's parents are in the US, our income though good doesn't allow for any luxuries, job satisfaction is zero, we don't have children nor intend to have any, we're very unsatisfied with quality of life here. As for our house the real estate market here is very strong at the moment and it would be foolish to sell, we'll probably eventually rent it out if we do get to NZ.

Your advice has been very useful and I thank you for it. I sincerely hope you find what you're looking for, best of luck with everything you do

Originally Posted by Fleaflyfloflum

I am married to a kiwi and also lived there for 2yrs. Even my husbands fills with dread at the thought of living there again!! He says he has outgrown it, which is the case for many NZers!
I also felt as if i was in gods waiting room. Good humour is not one of their strong points, and a fair few of them can be extremely narrow minded. I suppose being so isolated fromt he rest of the world might have somehting to do with it.
OH says that once he had left NZ and seen what the rest of the world has to offer, he really couldnt live there again, no matter how pretty the view from your window is!

Originally Posted by jmh

I'm an expat kiwi, living in the UK. My parents cannot understand why my brother and i live here because they believe what all kiwis do that NZ is God's own and better than any other country in the world. Some of the rubbish they come out with about how the education system is better, things are cheaper there (yes they do believe that!), my mum tells me about all the refugees coming from Britain to escape terrorism!

At the back of my mind I think I might return to NZ, but that would be when I want to downshift and not do too much, although when I look at the lifestyles my parents have I would rather be here. I appreciate the welfare system and health care here that you do not get there. I appreciate being able to hop on a plane to Italy cheaply. I have a trip to France in August and to China in November. I have great amenities nearby, libraries, gyms, fantastic shopping, public transport that will get me anywhere in London I want to go, for free once I reach pension age. The weather in the Southeast suits me just fine. I prefer a heatwave that lasts 3 days, to one that lasts weeks. When it is cold in the winter I put the fire on, and stay cosy in my centrally heated double glazed house. I think British people are very friendly, if a bit quirky! I even love the fact that it is so multicultural. Yes there are bad sides, like heavy traffic and the negative press, but on balance I like it here. Funny enough, it is probably the fact that I can leave at any time that makes me appreciate it more.

Originally Posted by jmh

I'm an expat kiwi, living in the UK. My parents cannot understand why my brother and i live here because they believe what all kiwis do that NZ is God's own and better than any other country in the world. Some of the rubbish they come out with about how the education system is better, things are cheaper there (yes they do believe that!), my mum tells me about all the refugees coming from Britain to escape terrorism!

At the back of my mind I think I might return to NZ, but that would be when I want to downshift and not do too much, although when I look at the lifestyles my parents have I would rather be here. I appreciate the welfare system and health care here that you do not get there. I appreciate being able to hop on a plane to Italy cheaply. I have a trip to France in August and to China in November. I have great amenities nearby, libraries, gyms, fantastic shopping, public transport that will get me anywhere in London I want to go, for free once I reach pension age. The weather in the Southeast suits me just fine. I prefer a heatwave that lasts 3 days, to one that lasts weeks. When it is cold in the winter I put the fire on, and stay cosy in my centrally heated double glazed house. I think British people are very friendly, if a bit quirky! I even love the fact that it is so multicultural. Yes there are bad sides, like heavy traffic and the negative press, but on balance I like it here. Funny enough, it is probably the fact that I can leave at any time that makes me appreciate it more.

Originally Posted by sidneyowes

So good to hear the other perspective. The only experiences I have heard is from young kiwis who go to London to work and live in over crowded flats so they can save as much money as possible before returning to 'God's own'. Sounds like you're having a great time travelling round and enjoying all the advantages on offer.